The Imitation of Christ
The grace that flows from redemption is meant to lead every person to the holiness and happiness for which we were created. In Latin, the word for “holy” is Sanctus, from which comes the word saint. To become holy means to become more saintly.
Essentially, then, the Christian vocation is to become more like Christ. This lifelong duty encompasses imitating the example of Christ in our every thought, word, and deed. The decision to pursue good and avoid evil is the first step for a follower of Jesus Christ. Christ is our model for holiness, and he himself is the very image of the Father. Our call is to love, to show mercy, and to forgive others just as God loves us, is merciful to us, and forgive us. Truly a goal for this Lenten season.
CCC 1803: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions. The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.”
Becoming an imitation of Christ in the Catholic tradition involves transforming one's mind and heart to align with Jesus through frequent reception of the Sacraments (especially Holy Communion), deep prayer, reading the Gospels, and humble service to others. It requires dying to self-centeredness, embracing the cross, and following the example of Mary and the saints.
We read in Scripture how Christ told his Apostles to “love one another, even as I have loved you (Jn 13:34). He taught that love forms the basis for the entire moral law: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt 22:37-39). Love of God is expressed in obedience to the will of God and the moral law: “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” (Jn 14:15).
CCC 2013: “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity." All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." In order to reach this perfection, the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ's gift, so that ... doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus, the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.”
Holiness, however, requires more than simply mimicry of Christ’s attributes, more than mere obedience to the Commandments. It requires a true relationship with God, rooted in the love of Christ. We are called not only to obey his will but also to know him personally and intimately. But our call to holiness and perfection involves a lifelong effort. We will achieve perfection only in the glory of heaven when we will be in perfect communion with God. Heaven is the goal and purpose of our very lives, made possible by the grace of redemption.
CCC 2842: “This "as" is not unique in Jesus' teaching: "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect"; "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful"; "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." It is impossible to keep the Lord's commandment by imitating the divine model from outside; there has to be a vital participation, coming from the depths of the heart, in the holiness and the mercy and the love of our God. Only the Spirit by whom we live can make "ours" the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. Then the unity of forgiveness becomes possible, and we find ourselves "forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave" us.”
—Deacon Gerry Flamm
“Dear children! Today I am carrying my love to you. God permitted me to love you and, out of love, to call you to conversion. You, little children, are poor in love and you still have not comprehended that my Son Jesus, out of love, gave His life to save you and to give you eternal life. Therefore pray, little children, pray so that in prayer you may comprehend God‘s love. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
